Basketball tattoos are a popular option for many athletes. You can show your loyalty, commemorate an achievement or just have something to look at when you are doing the millionth free-throw routine of the day.

If you’ve never looked into basketball tattoos before it might be hard to know where to start. Basketball tattoos often feature logos, symbols or team colours and revolve around players who have won championships, scoring records and MVP awards. You’ll also see NBA logo tattoos, stars, numbers and other inspirational phrases.

The following is a short overview of some popular basketball tattoos ideas. Don’t worry if you are not into the sport or if you don’t know much about it; these ideas will give you inspiration for your own tattoo design.

Basketball Tattoos Ideas

Player specific tattoos – these are great for any player who has a meaningful tattoo on their body or who wants one of their own. Popular designs feature a unique chemical-spot or ink combination, or a very detailed piece that includes the player’s initials. It’s a good idea for anyone looking for a basketball tattoo to check out the current and former players who have tattoos first.

These tattoos are a popular choice for the big men of the league, such as Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. Like these players, you can also express your love for these great players with a tattoo that incorporates their initials or name.

Awards – if you have won any awards while playing basketball, it’s a great way to show off your success in a permanent manner. Not only will you show your dedication to the sport of basketball, but you can also show your pride and appreciation for all the awards you’ve won.

Celebratory tattoos – for any real fans of the sport these are great. You’ll be showing off your love for basketball by having a specific celebration or accomplishment tattooed on your body in a meaningful way.

Logo tattoos – these are common, but have a huge potential for your design. Choose an NBA logo, or team logo to get your message across.

Team colours and symbols – use these to express your love for the game of basketball in a more personal way. These can include items such as the Nike swoosh, Nike shoes, uniforms and even court floors.

Player identity – for any athlete there is a need to have something that allows people to recognize them as “them”. Think about what you want to say about yourself and how you want others to know this about you. A unique and personal logo allows for a great tattoo, but also includes some of your identity by having your name included in the design.

Inspirational phrases – words of wisdom or inspirational quotes can be used to express an emotion, show spiritual belief or simply to just include someone’s name in a meaningful manner. You’ll find that many of these phrases seem like great ideas for tattoos, especially when you think about how you want your image to be remembered.

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